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You’re getting ready to leave for the day. You rush through your morning routine, grab clothes from your closet, and run out the front door. You might wonder for a moment why it seems quieter than usual.

At the end of the day you get home and realize something in horror: you left your cat locked in the closet all day. He must have sneaked in when you were getting your clothes. You probably feel guilty, and a little worried.

If this has ever happened to you - and let’s be honest, it probably has - you’re not alone. First, make sure your cat is okay. Then take steps to prevent this from ever happening again. How? Read on!

Step 1: Don’t panic

This happens all the time. Cats are notorious for sneaking into tight spaces, and staying quiet all day, so you might not even notice that something is wrong for a while.

If your cat was locked in a closet (or any room) for less than a day, he is probably fine. Cats get most of their water from their food, and need very little water to survive. They can go longer than humans without food, too, so chances are everything is fine!

She will also forgive you. We promise.

Step 2: Check for dehydration

Dehydration can still be a threat, so check for the telltale signs of dehydration by gently pinching any soft fold on your cat’s body. If the skin goes right back to normal, your cat is probably fine. If it doesn’t get back into place right away, your cat may need some help getting hydrated.

In either case, as soon as you free your cat from his accidental prison, offer him some water. If he seems dehydrated but doesn’t drink, have him checked out by the vet!

Step 3: Do a headcount

To prevent this from happening again, do a headcount before you leave for the day (and especially when you’re leaving for longer than that!). Make sure you can see your cat or cats before you head out that door. If your cat is especially adventurous, do this before you go to sleep too. Cats love cozy nooks and will hide just about anywhere!

Step 4: Leave the doors open

If your little ones are much too sneaky for you to keep track of them, you can just start leaving doors open. Usually just leaving the door open a crack is enough for a cat to be able to push his way out on his own.

Step 5: Leave water around the house

Maybe you can’t leave the doors open. Or maybe your cat is such a ninja he keeps finding new places to get lost in. In that case you might not be able to prevent locking your cat somewhere once in a while, but you can take precautions.

Leave bowls of water around the house, especially in places where your cat is likely to hide and potentially get locked in. This way if the seemingly inevitable does happen, you will at least know that your cat had access to water and won’t become dangerously dehydrated.

Almost every cat owner has gotten their poor kitty locked in a closet or a room at least once. Just be cautious and remember to check the shadows before you close the closet door!